I had no idea he was ill. At a time when comedy, even satirical comedy, has deteriorated to a series of knob jokes and boring formulaic 'observational' stand-up, his talents might still be changing things. I wondered where he'd gone.

Rotten news. He was a director too ('Bean') and a considerable comedy writer.

I had no idea he was ill. At a time when comedy, even satirical comedy, has deteriorated to a series of knob jokes and boring formulaic 'observational' stand-up, his talents might still be changing things. I wondered where he'd gone.

Rotten news. He was a director too ('Bean') and a considerable comedy writer.

Sadly he was ill for a long time-had gout and became addicted to painkillers, taking over 50 a day. He was in a few shows lately but people said how poorly he seemed.

Someone I know saw him in public last year and said he 'looked like death' then, so I'm not surprised but am very saddened-I grew up watching 'Alas Smith and Jones'.